WHO Trying to Track Down Cause of Unknown 1)Respiratory Illn

Broadcast: Mar¹ 18, 2003

 

The World Health Organization said it still does not know the cause of a mysterious respiratory illness that is being blamed for the deaths of nine people. The disease, known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome², began in Asia and has now spread to other regions of the world.

Officials at the World Health Organization say 11 laboratories in nine countries are trying to track down the cause of this disease, which first appeared in China in November.

The head of WHO's communicable diseases program, David Heymann, said the agency hopes that information gathered from China over the last four months will provide some answers as to how the disease, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, can be treated.

But, as of now, he said it is not certain that the disease identified in China is the same as that found in other countries. Dr. Heymann said the medical community is alarmed because it does not know what is causing the illness.

"We are very concerned initially³ that this could be an ²⁾influenza⁴ virus, and this is still being looked at in the 11 laboratories to make sure it is not, because the scientific community tells us that there will be another major world epidemic⁵ of influenza again one day. This is inevitable⁶ according to the scientific community. So we have to be on guard," Dr. Heymann said.

About 20 million people died in the influenza ^3）pandemic of 1918, that more than were killed in World War I. Dr. Heymann emphasizes there is no evidence that anything as serious as this is occurring now. In fact, he says the disease is not spreading as rapidly as a normal influenza, and only people who have been in close contact with actual patients appear to be at risk.

The first cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome were reported in China and then Vietnam, but it now has spread to Canada and several European countries. It is estimated that, worldwide, about 400 people have contracted the disease.

Although Dr. Heymann acknowledges the illness is very serious, he also says it is actually quite hard to catch. "There should not be panic. This is a disease which has to have, it seems must require, very close contact with patients. It is mainly hospital workers who have been infected in the first wave of infections. Now we are seeing that some of their family members are being infected. It is not contagious⁷ at the level of many other infectious diseases, including influenza," he said.

The World Health Organization urges people to seek medical attention if they show any

^4）symptoms of the illness. These include coughing, high fever and shortness of breath.

Lisa Schlein for VOA news, Geneva.

 

1) respiratory[ris5paiErEtEri]adj.呼吸的

2) influenza virus流行性感冒病毒

3) pandemic[pAn5demik]adj.全国流行的

4) symptom[5simptEm]n.[医]症状, 征兆

 

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 syndrome   

n.综合病症；并存特性

参考例句：

• The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。
• Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。

3 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

4 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

5 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

6 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

7 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。